The Philadelphia Book, Or, Specimens of Metropolitan Literature

harm.” His companion assented to the truth of this sagacious remark, and they pursued their journey.

These conversations having banished reserve, and the companions beginning to grow into confidence with each other, the officer ventured to inquire how near their route would lead to Fort Niagara, and learned that they must pass within a short distance of that fortress. Concealing his sense of the danger which this information implied to his person and mission, he said carelessly, “ Well, I suppose they will not disturb peaceable travellers?” “Sometimes they do, and sometimes they don't,” was the reply. “Do they ever get out as far as your little village?” “Oh, yes, often.” “ And how do they behave there?” “ Bad enough, bad enough,” and he then proceeded to narrate a number of particulars, showing how these petty marauders destroyed their property, insulted their women, and bullied their men, adding to the most monstrous acts of cruelty and oppression, the meanness of picking locks and pilfering trifles. It was by no means a matter of pleasing reflection to the Bearer of Despatches, that he must rest that night, if he rested at all, under a roof subject to these domiciliary visits: but he had other causes of uneasiness. It is well known that all the inhabitants within the reach of an English garrison, who are capable of corruption, become corrrupt. English gold, which is but a bugbear among the virtuous, presents a tempting lure to the loose and unprincipled inhabitants of a frontier, who can scarcely be said to belong to any country; and our armies sometimes encountered spies and traitors, where they had fondly hoped to find friends. On this occasion, our officer, who had incautiously placed himself under the guidance of a stranger, began to feel, as, darkness gathered around him, that he had acted imprudently, as the latter could as easily conduct
him to Fort Niagara as to a place of safety. He concealed his suspicions, and determined to act warily.

It was dark when they reached Lewistown, a little village which had been entirely reduced to ashes by the enemy. The moon, which now shone brightly, disclosed the solitary chimneys standing amid the ruins, the fruittrees surrounded by briars, the remains of enclosures, and all the marks of desolation. A more beautiful situation could scarcely be imagined, but it was now a wilderness. Here they took a path which led them from the river. A thick forest now overshadowed them, and they proceeded in silence and wrapped in impenetrable darkness, except at intervals, when they reached the summit of a hill, and the moon shot her beams through the branches. It was only by seizing such opportunities to watch the progress, and mark the exact position of this friendly luminary, that our officer, by forming some estimate of the course he was pursuing, could judge of the fidelity of his guide. They passed an eneampment of the Tuscarora Indians, where all was dark and silent; and about midnight arrived at the place of destination, which, though characterized as a village, was composed of only two or three log cabins. To one of these, which was dignified with the name of a public house, our traveller was conducted by his companion who apologized for not inviting him to his own house, owing to to the lateness of the hour, and the want of accomodations.

Mine host, though called from his bed, cheerfully assisted his guest in putting away his tired horse, and then led him through a room, where three or four rough twofisted fellows lay snoring with their feet to the fire, to a chamber on the upper floor. Supper he declined, as well from policy as from want of appetite; and having secured
the door, and laid his pistols under his pillow, he gathered his cloak around him, and threw himself on the bed. From a light slumber he was waked by a low murmur of voices in the apartment below, to which the precariousness of his situation induced him to listen with an intense and thrilling interest. Then a footstep was heard upon the stairs ascending slowly towards his apartment, and in a moment afterwards the latch was cautiously raised. He rose, seized his arms, and walked across the floor; the footsteps retired, the voices ceased below, and all was silent. Our officer loved his life as dearly as other men, but it will only be attributing to him on this occasion the feelings of his profession, to suppose that he felt more anxiety for his honour, and the success of his enterprise. His broken slumbers yielded but little refreshment during the remainder of the night; and before the first gray streak illumined the eastern horizon, he arose, and stole forth with noiseless steps, passed the snoring boarders, and in a moment breathed the free fresh air. His horse was soon equipped, and mounting, he rode to the door, and summoned his host, who was the first to hear his loud hallo. Surprised to find his guest in the saddle, he made no reply to his repeated demand to know his fare; but stepping forward, laid his hand upon the bridle. “ Hands off, my friend,” said the soldier,“ my horse is ticklish about the head.” “ Light, sir, light!” said the host," and take a dram before you go, it's a raw morning,”—and still held the rein. At this moment other faces appeared at the door; the officer liked neither their company nor their looks, and dropping a piece of money at the landlord's feet, he struck the spurs into the side of his steed, and dashed off in a gallop, leaving all danger behind.

FANCY.

BY THOMAS GODFREY.

High in the midst, rais’d on her rolling throne, Sublimely eminent bright Fancy shone: A glittring tiara her temples bound, Rich set with sparkling rubies all around; Her azure eyes rolled with majestic grace, And youth eternal bloom'd upon her face. A radiant bough, ensign of her command, Of polish'd gold, waved in her lily hand; The same the sybil to Eneas gave, When the bold Trojan cross’d the Stygian wave. In silver traces fix'd unto her car, Four snowy swans, proud of th' imperial fair, Wing'd lightly on, each in gay beauty drest, Smooth’d the soft plumage that adorn'd her breast. Sacred to her the lucent chariot drew, Or whether wildly through the air she flew,. Or whether to the dreary shades of night, Oppress'd with gloom, she downwards bent her flight, Or, proud aspiring, sought the blest abodes, And boldly shot among th' assembled gods.

RETREAT OF THE AMERICANS FROM LONG

ISLAND.

BY ALEXANDER GRAYDON.

EARLY in the forenoon, we were transported to Long Island ; marched down to the entrenchments at Brooklyn, and posted on their left extremity, extending to the Wallabout. The arrival of our two battalions (Shee's and Magaw's which always acted together) with that of Glover, had the effect, I have always found to be produced, by a body of men under arms, having the appearance of discipline. Although, owing to the dysentery which had prevailed in our camp, our number was so reduced, that the two regiments could not have amounted to more than eight hundred men, making in the whole, when joined with Glover's about twelve or thirteen hundred ; yet it was evident that this small reinforcement, inspired no inconsiderable degree of confidence. The faces that had been saddened by the disasters of yesterday, assumed a gleam of animation, on our approach ; accompanied with a murmur of approbation in the spectators, occasionally greeting each other with the remark, that these were the lads that might do something. Why it should be so, I know not, but the mind instinctively attaches an idea of prowess, to the silence, steadiness, and regularity of a military assemblage ; and an hundred well dressed, well armed, and well disciplined grenadiers, are more formidable in appearance, than a disjointed, disorderly multitude of a thousand. Our regiments, to be sure, could not ar